Israel-Hamas Conflict | US supports revised UN resolution on Gaza humanitarian aid

New Delhi, Dec 22: In a crucial development at the United Nations, the United States has officially backed the latest draft resolution addressing humanitarian aid for Gaza. The anticipated vote on this resolution is scheduled for today at the UN, following two weeks of intensive negotiations within the UN Security Council.

Originally proposing a sustainable cessation of hostilities, the final version of the resolution now focuses on creating the necessary conditions for such a cessation. The urgency of the situation is underscored by the World Food Programme's warning that Gaza could face famine within six months if the ongoing conflict persists.

US Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, expressed Washington's readiness to support the resolution, deeming it "very strong." However, she stopped short of confirming whether the United States would vote in favour or abstain.

The resolution had faced delays as the Security Council grappled with language-related issues throughout the week. Notably, the initial draft called for the use of all land, sea, and air routes for aid deliveries, but the final version now emphasises the use of all available routes.

A point of contention centred around the proposal for a UN mechanism to monitor aid into Gaza, with the US expressing concerns that this could compromise Israel's control over the screening process. Presently, Israel oversees all aid and fuel deliveries to Gaza.

The latest draft, in contrast to the vetoed previous version, emphasizes urgent measures to boost humanitarian aid to Gaza without explicitly demanding an immediate end to hostilities.

As the Security Council continued closed-door discussions, parallel negotiations took place in Cairo, Egypt, aimed at brokering a new truce and securing the release of more Israeli hostages.

The UN's World Food Programme spokesperson, Shaza Moghraby, reiterated the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to avert a looming famine in Gaza. Over a quarter of households in the region currently face extreme hunger, with aid deliveries from Egypt covering only 10% of the required amount.

Hopes for a ceasefire faced a setback as Hamas and other Palestinian groups insisted on linking further hostage releases to Israel's agreement to end the conflict. Hamas says that Palestinian groups would not release additional hostages until Israel committed to a "full cessation of aggression."

The Gaza health ministry reported a toll of over 20,000 people killed since the conflict erupted on October 7. The recent escalation resulted in nearly 400 deaths and 734 injuries in the last two days alone, further highlighting the urgent need for a resolution to the crisis.